Oneida Public Library shares more details on building plans

ONEIDA -- Oneida Public Library representatives Eileen Kinsella and Sue Miller recently sat down with The Dispatch to discuss the institution's $5 million fundraising campaign.

Last week the library announced a capital campaign called "Creating New Connections" to erect a new building on the OPL's lot cradled between Main and Elizabeth streets.

The price tag includes site work, and construction of an 18,000-square-foot facility. The current building on Broad Street has just under 8,000 square-feet of usable space, noted Kinsella, the library board president.

She said that ideally, the board would love to build a 25,000-square-foot library, but cut back on its size and design dreams in favor of cost effectiveness.

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Kinsella said the capital campaign is now in its "silent" phase. A steering committee has been formed, press kits have been printed up and grants are being sought from local foundations.

She said they would consider seeking state construction grants, state legislative initiative grants and local and regional economic development funding.

Kinsella said the campaign will enter its public phase within the next few months. If all goes as planned, the board would like to begin construction next year with all necessary cash in hand.

Miller, the Steering Committee chairperson, said there are many reasons a new building is needed. The current building is not handicap accessible. It lacks adequate space for community activities and doesn't have enough parking.

The library's shelves are completely full. With its collection of 57,522 books, periodicals and media items, every time a new book is accepted into circulation, another book must be discarded, said library director Carolyn Gerakopoulos.

To accomplish this, Gerakopoulos said that the Mid-York Library System, of which OPL is a part, keeps track of all items in circulation. If an item is not checked out in a five-year period, it is removed from circulation and donated to the Friends of Oneida Public Library annual book sale. The Friends of Oneida Public Library is separate organization that supports library programs through fundraising activities.

In addition, the new library will feature a self-checkout for books similar in style to what is being used in some grocery stores.

Bookshelves will not reach the floor or the ceiling. The shelves will be at a comfortable height for people who use wheelchairs or have trouble bending over.

Miller added that the design of the building will complement the historic character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The library won't have to increase staffing for the new building, and because of energy efficiency, operating costs won't be more than 6 percent higher than those of the current building, even though it's more than twice as big, Kinsella said.

The new building will have large windows that will let in a lot of natural light, and will be built on a slab instead of a basement.

Miller adds that the new building will be constructed using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines, which will make it eligible for grants after construction. Miller explains that once the building is complete following program guidelines, an inspector will determine if the building qualifies.

According to the United States Green Building Council, LEED-certified buildings must meet benchmarks in areas such as sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The goal of the program is to create an environmentally healthy indoor spaces that lower operating costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy and water.

"It will be all green," Miller said.

What if all the fundraising falls short?

She said "Plan B" isn't a smaller building. "You only get one chance to build a building," Kinsella noted. If money needs to be saved, the library will do things such as reuse the current furniture and cut corners on landscaping. Kinsella also said the sale of the current building will generate revenue.

A $500,000 grant was secured in 2010 by state Sen. David Valesky, D-49, through the New York State Dormitory Association.

A portion of the money, approximately $300,000 is earmarked for architect fees, Gerakopoulos said. The building design has been completed by Syracuse-based architecture firm Holmes, King and Kallquist.

The remaining $200,000 will be repaid to the Gorman Foundation, which loaned OPL money for the purchase of the lot.

County real property records show that the lot at 456 Elizabeth St. is approximately three acres and was purchased from the city by the library in June 2011 for exactly $200,000.

Looking forward, Miller and Kinsella expressed optimism about the project.

"We want to see the library move into the 21st century," Miller said. "This is an opportunity to build a legacy for our children."

She also added that even with the advent of e-books, 107,000 books, magazines and videos were checked out in 2011. The library was able to record 72,389 visitors to the library that same year.

"Books are not going away," Miller said.

Kinsella said that board and committee members have worked hard to keep project costs down.

Both Miller and the media kit for the capital campaign state that in terms of inflation, the $174,000 raised in 1952 to fund the construction of the current library (6,146 usable square feet before the additions were built) translates to a $5 million project today.

However United States Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index calculator shows $174,000 in 1950 would equal to $1.67 million in today's dollars.

Library officials say there are other ways besides the CPI Index to calculate building values over time, but did not provide them in time for this report.

The library does not plan on holding a bond referendum for the project, they hope to fund the rest of the project through donations, Kinsella said.

Kinsella emphasized that the library budget, which will be up for public vote in March of 2013, does not include any costs associated with the construction project. Budget details will be released for public review in January.

Gerakopoulos said that every year, the bulk of funding for the library comes from a library tax paid by city of Oneida residents and fundraising by the Friends of the Oneida Public Library.

She added that while the library does not receive state or federal dollars, Madison County provides some funding.

County records show the library received $11,773 in the 2012 county budget. County administrative assistant Mark Scimone said that OPL has received roughly that same amount for the past few years.